Carton handling and loading method and machine

ABSTRACT

A carton handling and loading method and machine are provided wherein the cartons to be processed are initially folded to a flat condition and then erected into the configuration of a generally tubular carton structure open at its ends, the articles to be packaged are loaded into the carton structure through one of its open ends while its opposite open end is blocked by a removable closure member, the ends of the carton structure are then closed by folding end flaps of the carton across these ends, and the end flaps are finally sealed to provide a completed package.

United States Patent [72] Inventor James R. Ellis Covina, Calif. [21]App1.N0. 729,712 [22] Filed May 16, 1968 [45] Patented June 15, 1971[73] Assignee M & E Machinery Corp.

Covina, Calif.

[54] CARTON HANDLING AND LOADING METHOD AND MACHINE 6 Claims, 14 DrawingFigs.

[52} 11.8. C1 53/159, 53/186, 53/374, 53/388 [51] Int. Cl B65b 35/52.B65b 43/32 [50] Field of Search 53/29, 152, 186, 381, 382, 388, 159, 162[561 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,134,309 5/1964 Weber eta]. 53/186 X 3,107,013 10/1963 Euwe 53/152 X 3,236,027 2/1966 Schmermund53/388 3,299,611 1/1967 Hendrick et al... 53/186 3,323,283 6/1967Johnson et al. .1 53/186 3,343,335 9/1967 Pearson.... 53/252 X PrimaryExaminerTheron E. Condon Assistant Examiner-E. F. DesmondAttorney-Boniard I Brown ABSTRACT: A carton handling and loading methodand machine are provided wherein the cartons to be processed areinitially folded to a flat condition and then erected into theconfiguration of a generally tubular carton structure open at its ends,the articles to be packaged are loaded into the carton structure throughone of its open ends while its opposite open end is blocked by aremovable closure member, the ends of the carton structure are thenclosed by folding end flaps of the carton across these ends, and the endflaps are finally sealed to provide a completed package.

PATENTED JUN] 5197! PATENTED JUN 1 5 SHEET 2 [1F 4 flirvs /roe CBFIMES19. 2.03,

flrraRA/Ey CARTON HANDLING AND LOADING METHOD AND MACHINE BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generallyto the packaging art and more particularly to a novel method of andmachine for erecting folded cartons, loading articles in the cartons,and sealing the cartons to provide completed article packages.

2. Prior Art A wide variety of methods and machines have been devisedfor packaging all sorts of articles in containers of various types. As ageneral rule, the design of a packaging machine is dictated, in largepart, by the shape, size, and other characteristics of the articles tobe packaged, by the type of container in which the articles are to bepackaged, and by the manner in which the articles are to be arranged inthe containers. In some cases, for example, the articles to be packagedmay have random shapes and sizes, while in other cases the packagedarticles may be of generally uniform shape and size. Relative to thecontainers, the latter may comprise preformed cartons which are merelyfilled or loaded with the articles to be packaged and then sealed, orthe containers may be stored in a folded or other compact condition andthen erected, filled, and finally sealed. In some instances, eachcontainer may receive a single article and in other cases a number ofarticles. Actual packaging of multiple articles in containers mayinvolve simply, introducing the articles into the containers ingenerally random fashion, or loading of the articles in the containersin some predetermined arrangement, or other packaging technique.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One important aspect of the present inventionis concerned with a total article packaging concept involving theloading of a number of essentially identical articles, such as ice creambars, in a predetermined arrangement into cartons having sidewalls whichare mutually joined along intervening fold lines extending endwise ofthe cartons and hinged end flaps along the ends of the sidewalls.According to this inventive aspect, the cartons are initially collapsedor folded to a flat condition wherein the adjacent carton sidewalls aredisposed in face to face contact and the carton end flaps are disposedin the planes of their respective sidewalls. In the course of thepresent article handling and loading method, each carton is erected byfolding of its sidewalls about their fold lines to positions wherein theadjacent walls are generally perpendicular to one another so as to forma generally rectangular tubular carton structure open at its ends. Oneopen end of the structure is then blocked, as by placement of theclosure member within this end, and the articles to be packaged areloaded into the carton structure through its opposite open end until thecarton is filled to capacity. According to the preferred practice of theinvention, this loading step is accomplished by reciprocating a loadingplate along the axis of the tubular carton structure into and from itsopen end, and periodically feeding a number of the articles to bepackaged into the region between the carton and the loading plate, intimed relation to reciprocation of this plate, in such a way that eachstroke of the plate in the direction of the carton structure iseffective to transport or load a group of the articles into the cartonstructure. After filling, the carton flaps are folded across the openends of the carton structure to close the ends, after which the flapsare sealed to provide a finished package.

The packaging machine of the invention is designed to perform thispackaging operation. To this end, the machine is equipped with a framehaving a carton storage station, a carton erecting-loading station, aflap folding station, and a flap sealing station spaced therealong.Mounted on the frame at the carton storage station is a hopper forcontaining a stack of the folded cartons. Carton feed means are providedfor extracting the folded cartons edgewise in succession from the hopperand then transporting each carton through the several stations of themachine along a direction line transverse to the carton sidewall foldlines. Located at the carton erecting-loading station are cartonerecting means for erecting each carton arriving at this station intothe configuration of the open ended tubular carton structure referred toabove. The station is also equipped with carton loading means, such asthe loading means mentioned above in connection with the presentpackaging method, for loading the articles to be packaged into eachcarton after its erection into a tubular carton structure. The filledcartons are then transported laterally along the machine frame throughthe flap folding station where the carton flaps are closed to the flapsealing station where the closed flaps are sealed. A feature of thesealing station resides in an elevator mechanism for verticallytransporting the sealed cartons stepwise in a vertical stack from theinfeed level at which the cartons arrive at this station to an outfeedlevel to allow the carton sealing means to drive or set withouthorizontal movement of the cartons which would require additionalhorizontal extension of the machine frame. The completed cartons orpackages arriving at the outfeed level are then transferred to anoutfeed conveyor or the like.

It is evident at this point that the present packaging machine embodiesseparate carton erecting, loading, and sealing means which cooperate toaccomplish the total article packaging method of the invention. However,it will become evident as the description proceeds that each of thesemeans may be utilized by themselves or in other packaging methods andmachines. For example, the carton erecting means may be employed as anindependent mechanism for simply erecting folded cartons of thecharacter described which can then be filled and sealed by hand or bymachines other than the packaging machine of the invention. The sameapplies to the carton loading means, which may be employed inconjunction with various carton erecting and sealing means, and to thesealing means, which may be utilized with various carton erecting andloading means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of apackaging machine according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a semidiagrammatic perspective view of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view, on enlarged scale, of one of the cartonswhich are handled and filled in the packaging machine, the carton beingillustrated in its flattened condition;

FIG. 4 is an edge view of the carton in FIG. 3 erecting-loading inbroken lines, the manner in which parts carton is erected;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the cartonerecting-loading station of the machine with certain parts omitted forthe sake of clarity;

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view, on reduced scale, of a portionof the carton erecting means of the machine;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view on reduced scale, of a portionof the carton loading means of the machine;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view, on reduced scale, of aportion of the carton flap folding means of the machine;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the articles which theillustrated machine is designed to package;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken on line 12-12 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of thestructure shown in FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a horizontallymovable carton infeed carriage of the machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to these drawings,there is illustrated a packaging machine 10 according to the inventionfor packaging essentially identical articles 12 into cartons 14. Eachcarton 14 has sidewalls 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d which are mutually joinedalong intervening fold lines 18 extending endwise of the carton. Forconvenience, the sidewalls 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d are hereafter referred toin places as leading trailing, top, and bottom sidewalls, respectively.Along the ends of these sidewalls are hinged end flaps 20a, 20b, 20c,and 20d which are hereinafter referred to in places as leading,trailing, top, and bottom flaps, respectively. It is significant to notehere that the width of the bottom flaps 20d, measured endwise of acarton 14, is substantially greater than the corresponding width of theremaining flaps. The cartons 14 are initially collapsed or folded to aflat condition, illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 4, wherein theadjacent carton sidewalls are disposed in face to face contact, and thecarton end flaps extend from and in the plane of their respectivesidewalls. Each folded carton is designated in the drawings by thereference character F. During the packaging operation of the machine 10,each folded carton F is erected by folding of its leading and trailingsidewalls [6a, [6b upwardly relative to the bottom carton sidewall 16dto positions wherein the adjacent sidewalls are generally perpendicularto one another so as to form a generally tubular rectangular cartonstructure S open at its ends. At the conclusion of the packagingoperation, the carton end flaps 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d are closed by foldingthe flaps inwardly across the open ends of the carton structure S toclose these ends. The end flaps are then sealed to one another toprovide a completed carton or package C.

Returning now to the packaging machine 10, the latter has an elongateframe 22 with a carton storage station 24, a carton erecting-loadingstation 26, a flap folding station 30, and a flap sealing station 32which are spaced along the frame, as shown. Located at the cartonstorage station 24 is a hopper 34 for containing a stack 36 of thefolded cartons F. The cartons in the stack are arranged one on top ofthe other with their fold lines 18 extending transversely of the frame22. Extending longitudinally along the top of the frame 22 and acrossthe under side of the hopper 34 are rails 38 on which rest the lowermostcarton F in the stack 36. The side of the hopper 34 between the cartonstack 36 and the carton erecting-loading station 26 is provided by anupright plate or wall 40. The lower edge of this wall is spaced abovethe frame rails 38 to define therebetween an intervening gap having awidth just slightly greater than the thickness of the folded carton F.

Mounted on the frame 22 below the rails 38 are carton feed means 42 forextracting the lower folded carton F from the hopper 34 and transportingthe carton laterally, i.e., along a direction line extendinglongitudinally of the frame and laterally of the carton fold line 18, tothe carton erecting-loading station 26. In this instance, the cartonfeed means comprises a pneumatic linear actuator 44 having a cylinder d6mounted on the frame 22 below and extending longitudinally of the framerails 38. The cylinder is located below the flap folding station 30 andcontains a plunger 48 having a rod 50 which extends from the cylinderthrough the carton erecting- Ioading station 26 to the carton storagestation 24. Fixed to the end of this rod is a crosshead 52 attached to acarriage I70 mounting a pair of resilient catches 54. Carriage 170mounts rollers 180 which support the carriage on the machine frame forrolling movement along the frame. Catches 54 are situated between theframe rails 38 and are resiliently biased in the upward direction to thenormally extending positions of FIGS. 2 and 4, wherein the shouldersproject above the rails to engage the lower carton in the hopper. Thethrust shoulders have upper cam faces 56.

During operation of the packaging machine 10, the cylinder 46 of thecarton feed actuator 42 is periodically pressurized to extend theactuator plunger 48 to the left in FIG. 2 to its illustrated position,wherein the plunger extends across the underside of the hopper 34, andthen retract the plunger to the right toward the carton erecting-loadingstation 26. In the course of extension of the plunger, the cam faces 56of the catches 54 engage the lower folded carton F in the carton stack36 and are thereby cammed downwardly to clear the lower carton,

thus to permit movement of the catches across the underside of the lowercarton. As the plunger approaches its fully extended position of FIG. 2,the catches snap upwardly behind the adjacent edge of the lower carton,as shown. During subsequent retraction of the actuator plunger 48 towardthe carton erecting-loading station 26, the catches engage the lowercarton F and push this carton edgewise from the carton stack 36, throughthe gap between the frame rails 38 and the hopper sidewalls 40, to thecarton erecting-folding station.

Mounted to the frame 22 between the carton erecting-folding station 26and the hopper 34, adjacent the hopper sidewall 40, are a pair of flapfolding members 57. These flaps folding members engage the projectingbottom side flaps 20d on each folded carton F as the latter emerges fromthe hopper 34 and fold these flaps downwardly against opposite sides ofthe frame rails 38, as illustrated in FIG. 2. These flaps are urgeddownwardly by taps 50, are further pressed downwardly and retained bytabs 57, and are retained by rails 57a.

Mounted on the frame 22 are a pair of retractable carton stops 55. Thesestops normally project above the frame rails 38 so as to arrest eachfolded carton F arriving at the station in a predetermined cartonerecting and loading position. FIG. 4 illustrates a carton in thisposition. Mounted on the frame 22 at the carton erecting-loading station26 are carton erecting means 58 which are actuated upon arrival of eachfolded carton in this position to erect the carton to its open endedtubu lar configuration S.

The illustrated carton erecting means 58 comprises an initial cartonerector 59 which partially erects each folded carton and a final cartonerector 60 which completes the erection of each carton. The initialcarton erector 59 comprises a pneumatic actuator having a cylinder 62mounted in a vertical position on the frame 22 below the frame rails 38.Movable in the cylinder is a plunger 64 having a carton erector rod 66projecting from the upper end of the cylinder. Referring to FIGS. 3, 4and 8, it will be observed that the bottom sidewall 16d of each carton14 has an opening 68 which is vertically aligned with the erectorplunger 66 when the carton arrives in its erecting and loading positionat the erecting-loading station 26. Actually, all of the sidewalls ofthe illustrated cartons are provided with openings which serve asventilation openings and one of which provides the lower erector rodopening 68. Normally, the erector plunger rod 66 is retracted into itscylinder 62 to a position wherein the upper end of the rod is locatedbelow the frame rails 38 to permit unobstructed movement of the foldedcartons F from the hopper 34 to the carton erecting-loading station 26.Immediately following arrival of each folded carton in itserecting-loading position at the station 26, the erector cylinder 62 ispressurized to extend the erector rod 66 upwardly. During this extensionof the rod, the latter passes through the lower carton opening 68 toinitially engage the currently folded leading carton sidewall 16a andthereafter to rotate this sidewall upwardly to its inclined position ofFIG. 4. This action effects partial erection of the folded carton fromits flat solid line condition of FIG. 4 to its broken line condition ofthat figure.

The final carton erector 60 has a cylinder 70 mounted on the frame 22 atthe carton erecting-loading station 26 and in a generally horizontalposition over the frame rails 38. Cylinder 70 extends generallylongitudinally of the frame and contains a plunger 72 having a rod 74which extends from the end of the cylinder facing the hopper 34. Mountedon the outer end of this rod is a depending carton erector flange orfinger 76. The erector plunger 72 is extended to its position of FIG. 4,wherein the erector flange 76 permits initial erection of each foldedcarton F at the station 26 to its partially erected condition of thefigure by the initial carton erector 59. In this partially erectedcondition, the upper edge of the trailing carton sidewall 26b is locatedin the path of retraction movement of the erector flange 76 with thefinal carton erector plunger 72. Immediately following erection of eachcarton to its partially erected condition, the final carton erectorcylinder 70 is pressurized to retract its plunger 72. During thisretraction, the

erector flange 76 engages the trailing carton sidewall 16b and rotatesthe latter wall to a vertical position, thereby completing erection ofthe carton to its fully erected condition of FIG. 9 to form the tubularcarton structure S. It will be understood that during both the initialand final stages of this erecting operation the carton being erected isrestrained against forward movement along the frame 22, in a directionof the following flap folding station 30, by engagement of the leadingcarton sidewall 16a with the carton frame stops 55.

Also mounted on the frame 22 at the carton erecting-loading station 26are carton loading means 77. These carton loading means are actuatedafter the erection of each folded carton F to its tubular configurationC to load a number of the articles 12 into the carton structure. Theparticular loading means illustrated comprise a carton backup or closureplate 78 and an article infeed plate 80. These plates are located atopposite sides of the carton erecting-loading station 26 in longitudinalvertical planes of the machine frame 22 in such a way that the platesare aligned crosswise of the frame with the tubular carton structure Scurrently situated in carton loading position at the station. Thedimensions of each plate approximate, and are preferably slightly lessthan, the internal dimensions of the carton structure. Associated withthe plates 78, 80 are a pair of plate actuators 82, 84. The closureplate actuator 82 has a cylinder 85 extending crosswise of and mountedon the machine frame 22 over the station 26. Movable in this cylinder isa plunger 86 having a rod 38, the outer end of which mounts a dependingarm 90 secured to the outer side of the carton closure plate 78.Similarly, the article infeed plate actuator 34 has a cylinder 92extending crosswise of and mounted on the machine frame 22 over thestation 26. Movable in this cylinder is a plunger 94 having a rod 96mounting at its outer end a depending arm 98 which is secured to theouter side of the infeed plate 80. It is now evident, therefore, thatthe actuator cylinders 85, 92 may be pressurized to extend the plates78, 80 inwardly toward one another and retract the plates outwardly awayfrom one another along the longitudinal axis of the intervening tubularcarton structure S currently situated in loading position at the cartonerecting-loading station 26.

Normally, the plates 78, 80 are in their outward positions of FIGS. 5, 7and 9, wherein the plates are spaced to permit unrestricted movement ofeach folded carton F to and erection of the carton to its tubularconfiguration S at the carton erecting-loading station 26. Followingerection of each carton, the cylinder 85 of the closure plate actuator82 is pressurized to extend the carton closure plate 78 inwardly to aposition wherein this plate fits within and closes the adjacent open endof the tubular carton structure S. The cylinder 92 of the article infeedplate actuator 84, on the other hand, is periodically pressurized insuch a way as to drive the article infeed plate 80 in a reciprocatingmotion along the axis of the tubular carton structure S between an innerextended position wherein the plate fits within the adjacent open end ofthis carton structure and its outer position of FIGS. 1, 5, 7 and 9,wherein the plate is spaced from the latter carton end.

Also embodied in the carton loading means 77 are article infeed means100 which operate in synchronism with the reciprocating motion of thearticle infeed plate 80 to feed a group of the articles 12 into theregion 102 between the carton structure S and the plate each time thelatter retracts. The plate feeds a plurality of groups of articlestogether into the carton structure S, in a manner which is describedlater herein. The filled carton structure is advanced laterally to thefollowing flap folding or closing station 30.

The article infeed means 100 comprises a laterally projecting platform104 on the machine frame 22 opposite the carton erecting-loading station26. This platform is located at the side of the frame adjacent thecarton infeed plate 80 and has an upper bed 106 which is locatedapproximately at the level of the upper surfaces of the frame rails 38.Opening through this bed, directly below the region 102 between thetubular carton structure S and the infeed plate 80 when the latter isretracted,

is a rectangular opening 108. Rigidly secured to the upper side of theplatform bed 106, along the edges of the bed opening 108 which extendtransversely of the frame 22, are a pair of parallel upstanding walls109. These walls, then, are disposed in parallel vertical transverseplanes of the frame 22. The spacing between the walls 109, and thecorresponding dimension of the platform bed opening 108, aresubstantially equal to the internal dimensions of each tubular cartonstructure S measured normal to its leading and trailing sidewalls 16a,16b. The platform walls 109 are so located that the intramural spacebetween the walls is aligned with and opens toward the adjacent openingend of each carton structure S in loading position at the loadingstation 26. This intramural space defines, and is hereafter referred toas, the article receiving region 102.

Mounted on the frame 22 directly below the platform 104 is an articleelevator 110. This elevator has a vertical cylinder 112 fixed to theframe on the center line of the platform bed opening 106. Movable in thecylinder is a plunger 114 having a rod 116 which extends from the upperend of the cylinder. A horizontal plate of slightly smaller dimensionsthan the bed opening is mounted on the upper end of the plunger rod 116.This plate is oriented with its edges parallel to the edges of theopening 108 so as to be capable to vertical movement into and from theopening. The article elevator 110 is operable to move the elevator plate118 vertically between an upper position, wherein the plate is locatedwithin the opening 108 substantially flush with the upper surface of theplatform bed 104, and its lower position of FIGS. 6 and 7, wherein theplate is situated a distance below the opening.

Depending from the under side of the platform bed 106, along the sidesof the bed opening 108 which extend lengthwise of the machine frame 22,are walls 120. These walls are disposed in parallel longitudinalvertical planes of the frame. Angles 122 are fixed to the innerconfronting sides of these walls, a distance below the platform bed 104,to define a pair of upwardly facing shoulders or ledges 124. Ledges 124are disposed in a common horizontal plane which is located at a slightlyhigher elevation than the elevator plate 118 when the latter isretracted to its lower position of FIGS. 6 and 7. The platform bed 106,depending walls 120, and shoulders 124, together define an articlereceiving chamber 126 directly below, of approximately the same size as,and opening upwardly to the bed opening 108. One of the upper platformwalls 109, namely the right-hand wall in FIG. 6, depends below theplatform bed 106 to close the adjacent end of the chamber 126. Theopposite end of the chamber is open.

Frame platform 104 has an extension 128 located opposite the open end ofthe article receiving chamber 126. This platform extension defines arectangular guideway 130 of approximately the same cross section as, andopening toward the chamber. It is to be noted that the angles 122 whichdefine the lower chamber shoulders 124 extend beyond the open end of thechamber and along the lower side of the guideway 130. The open end ofthe chamber and the confronting open end of the guideway are spaced todefine therebetween an intervening article receiving space 132. Thisspace is bounded at its lower side by the shoulders 124 and opensupwardly to the outfeed end of the article feed chute 134. The articlefeed chute has an opposite infeed end (not shown) into which aredelivered the articles 12 to be packaged. In this instance, the articles(FIG. 10) comprise generally flat and rectangular articles, such as icecream bars. It will become evident as the description proceeds, however,that the invention is not limited in application to packaging of theseparticular articles. Referring particularly to FIG. 6, it will be seenthat the articles 12 move laterally through the feed chute 134 inabutting edge to edge relation and finally emerge from the outfeed endof the chute into the article receiving space 132. This space isdimensioned to receive a single article in such a way that the ends ofthe article rest on the shoulders 124 and the vertical sides of thearticle face the article receiving chamber 126 and guideway 130,respectively. Referring to FIG. 7, it will be seen that the dimensionsof the receiving chamber 126, in crosssectional planes parallel to theplane of the paper, approximate or are just slightly larger than thecorresponding dimensions of the article 12.

Mounted on the frame portion extension 128 is an article infeed ram 136having a cylinder 138 which is located on the longitudinal axis of thearticle receiving chamber 126. Cylinder 138 contains a plunger 140having a rod 142 which extends from the cylinder into the guideway 130.Fixed to the inner end of this plunger is a pusher plate 144. Ahorizontal gating plate 146 is rigidly secured to and extends rearwardlyfrom the upper edge of the pusher plate 144. Normally, the ram plunger140 is retracted to its position of FIG, 6 wherein the pusher plate 144clears the article receiving space 132 to permit entrance into thisspace of an article 12 from the article feed chute 134. During operationof the packaging machine 10, the ram cylinder 138 is periodicallyactuated to drive the pusher plate 144 is reciprocating motion betweenits retracted position of H6. 6 and an extended position wherein theplate is disposed within the adjacent open end of the receiving chamber126. Each time the pusher plate is retracted, an article 12 drops fromthe article feed chute 134 into the article receiving space 132. Eachtime the pusher plate is extended, it pushes or feeds this article fromthe space 132 into the article receiving chamber 126. During thisextension of the pusher plate, its upper gating plate 146 moves acrossthe lower outfeed end of the feed chute 134 to block entrance into thespace 132 of the next article 12 in the chute. It is now evident,therefore, that reciprocating motion of the pusher plate 144 iseffective to feed the articles 12 into the receiving chamber 126 inintermittent fashion in such manner that each article pushes thepreceding article through the chamber. This article infeed action of theram 136 is continued until the chamber is completely filled with thearticles 12, as it is illustrated in FIG. 6. During this article infeedaction of the article infeed ram 136, the article elevator plate 118 isretained in its lower retracted position of FIG. 6. When the articlereceiving chamber 126 has been filled to capacity with the articles 12,the operation of the infeed ram is terminated and the elevator platecylinder 112 is pressurized to move the elevator plate 118 upwardly.During this upward movement of the plate, it engages the under sides ofthe group of articles 12 within the receiving chamber 26 and elevatesthis group of articles upwardly through the opening 108 in the frameplatform bed 106 to a position wherein the under surfaces of thearticles are located just slightly above the upper surface of the bed.

Mounted on the frame platform 104, at opposite sides of the articlereceiving chamber 126, are a pair of article gating devices 148. Each ofthese gating devices comprises a pneumatic linear actuator 150 having acylinder 152 which is rigidly mounted on the underside of the platformbed 106. Cylinders 152 extend horizontally, in a crosswise direction ofthe frame 22, and are located approximately midway between the ends ofthe article receiving chamber 126. Movable within the cylinders 152 areplungers 154 having rods 156 which extend from the ends of the cylindersadjacent the chamber. Fixed to and rising from the ends of the plungerrods 156 are cross heads 158 which extend upwardly through slots in theplatform bed 106. The slots are elongated transversely of the machineframe 22 so as to permit extension and retraction movement of the gateactuator plungers 154. Rigidly fixed to the upper ends of the crossheads 158 are gating plates 160 which slide on the upper surface of theplatform bed 106. Normally, the gate actuating plungers 154 are extendedoutwardly to positions wherein the adjacent edges of the gating plates160 are in positions wherein their adjacent edges are in their positionsshown in FIG. 7. In the retracted positions, therefore, the edges of thegating plates 160 are substantially flush with the inner surfaces ofsidewalls 120 of chamber 126, thereby permitting upward elevation of agroup of the articles 12, by the article elevator 110, from the articlereceiving chamber 126, through the platform bed opening 108, into thearticle receiving region 120, in the manner previously ex plained. Aftereach group of articles has thus been elevated into the region 102, thegating actuators 150 are operated to extend the gating plates 160inwardly to their positions of FIG. 7. In these positions, the gatingplates engage under and support the group of articles within the region102.

During operation of the packaging machine 10, the article elevator 110,article infeed ram 136, and gating actuators 150 are operated in timedrelation in such a way that the infeed ram initially feeds a group ofthe articles 12 into the article receiving chamber 126 while theelevator is retracted. The operation of the ram is then terminatedmomentarily and the elevator is operated to raise the group of articlesfrom the chamber 126 into the article receiving region 102. At thispoint, the gating actuators are operated to extend the gating platesinwardly to support the group of articles within the region 102, and theelevator is again retracted. After retraction of the elevator, thearticle infeed ram 136 is again operated to'feed a second group ofarticles into the article receiving chamber 126. Thereafter, the gatingactuators 150 are operated to retract the gating plates 160, and theelevator 110 is again operated to raise the second group of articlesfrom the chamber 126 into the article receiving region 102. During thiselevation of the second group of articles, the latter engage and raisethe first group of articles currently within the region 102. At thispoint, the gating plates 160 are again extended to support the twogroups of articles within the region 102 and the elevator 110 is againretracted. This procedure is repeated until the region 102 contains adesired number of layers or tiers of the articles 12. In this instance,each carton 1% is designed to receive 24 articles or ice cream barsarranged in three tiers each containing eight articles. Accordingly, theabove described cyclic operation of the article elevator 110, articleinfeed ram 136, and gating actuators 150 is continued until the articlereceiving region 102 contains three tiers of articles, as shown in FIG.7. It should be noted here that the elevator plate 118 may be providedwith a depending gating plate 1180 for blocking the open end of thearticle receiving chamber 126 during elevation of the plate through thechamber, in the manner just described, thus to prevent entrance of anarticle 12 from the article receiving space 132 into the chamber duringelevation of the plate.

During the above described operation of the article elevator 110,article infeed ram 136, and gating actuators 150, the article infeedplate 80 is retained in its extended position of FIGS. 1, 5, 7, and 9.After three tiers or groups of articles have been elevated into thearticle receiving region 102, the infeed plate actuator cylinder 92 ispressurized to retract the infeed plate 80 inwardly. This retraction ofthe infeed plate feeds the three groups of articles from the region 102into the adjacent, open end of the tubular carton structure S currentlyin loading position at the carton erecting-loading station 26 until thearticles abut the closure plate 78. The plates 78, 80 are then extended.

At this point, it is significant to recall that the lower flaps 20d ofeach carton 14 are folded downwardly against the sides of the framerails 38 during transfer of the carton, in its flattened condition, fromthe hopper 34 to the carton erectingloading station 26. Engagement ofthese downwardly folded flaps within the sides of the rails preventsendwise movement of each carton structure 8 during loading of the cartonstructure at the station 26. Pivotally mounted along the inner edges ofthe upstanding platform walls 109 are hinged baffles 162. Associatedwith these baffles are torsion springs 164 which urge the baffles totheir solid line positions of FIGS. 5 and 7. When the infeed plate 80 isdriven inwardly to feed a group of articles 12 into a carton structureS, the advancing articles engage the baffles 162 and swing the latter totheir broken line positions wherein the baffles retain the carton flapsin their illustrated unfolded positions to prevent the flaps fromobstructing loading movement of the articles into the carton structure.Mounted on the outer ends of the baffles are brackets 164 which engagethe upper carton flaps 201: to retain these flaps in their illustratedunfolded positions and thereby prevent these flaps from obstructingloading movement of the articles into the carton structure.

Mounted on the machine frame at the loading station 26 is a flap foldingmechanism 230 which operates to fold inwardly the carton side flaps bfollowing filling of the carton with the articles 12. This mechanismcomprises an actuator 236 having a cylinder 232 containing a plunger236. Plunger 236 is formed with rack teeth which mesh with a pinion 238rigid on a rock shaft 240. Rock shaft 240 is joumaled on the machineframe on an axis transverse to the frame. Fixed to the ends of the shaftare flap folding arms 242. It is evident, therefore, that extension andretraction of the actuator plunger 236 oscillates the folding arms 242.Normally, the arms are retained in their broken line positions of P16.4. When loading of the carton is completed, it is advanced while thearms are rotated downwardly through their solid line positions of P16. 4to fold forwardly or inwardly the carton flaps 20h.

Mounted on the carton feed carriage 170 are carton feed means 166 forfeeding the filled carton from the loading sta tion 26 to the flapfolding station 30. Feed means 166 comprise a pair of drive fingers 172which are pivotally mounted at 176 on the carriage and are yieldablyurged to their erect feed positions of FIG. 14 by springs 1174. Assuminga carton has just been filled at the loading position, the feed ram 44is pressurized to drive the carriage 170 in its feed stroke back to thehopper 34 to extract the next carton from the hopper. During this returnstroke of the carriage, the carriage drive fingers 172 engage the cartonat the loading station and are thereby rotated against spring tension topermit the fingers to pass beneath the carton. Upon arrival of thecarriage at the end of its return stroke, the fingers clear the cartonat the loading station and thus return to their erect positions underspring action. During the following feed stroke of the carriage, theerect fingers engage the latter carton and feed this carton from theloading station 26 to the flap folding station 30. The folding stationis equipped with flap folding members or shoes 224, 226, 227 which actto first fold inwardly the leading carton side flaps 20a and to inwardlythe fold inwardly the top and bottom carton flaps 20c and 20d andthereby close the ends of the carton. The flaps are sealed in anyconvenient way, as by a heat sealing action involving the use of heatsealing means at the sealing station 32, as described below. The flapfolding shoes 224, 226 and 227 are generally conventional and thus neednot be explained in detail.

After leaving the flap folding station 30, the carton is delivered tothe sealing station 32. To this end, the carton feed carriage 170 mountsa second pair of pivoted spring loaded drive fingers 172. During eachreturn stroke of the carriage to the hopper 24 to extract the nextcarton from the hopper, the fingers engage the carton currently at thefolding station and are thereby retracted against the action of theirsprings 174 to permit the fingers to move across the bottom of thecarton. Upon arrival of the carriage at the end of its return stroke,the fingers spring back to their erect positions so as to feed thecarton from the flap folding station to the sealing station during thefollowing feed stroke of the carriage.

The carton sealing station 32 has a vertical carton extending andstacking mechanism 189 (FIGS. 12 and 13) including four corner posts189a which are rigidly secured to and rise vertically from the machineframe. Extending horizontally between the posts at the sides of theframe are a pair of carton supporting bars 190. These bars have innercarton supporting flanges 190a and outer reinforcing flanges l90b.Welded to the ends of the bars 190 are pivot shafts 192 which arejournaled in the posts to pivotally support the bars for rotation ontheir longitudinal axes. Springs 194 are connected between the bars andthe posts to yieldably urge the bars to their normal solid line extendedpositions of E10. 12, wherein the inner carton supporting flanges 190aproject inwardly in horizontal planes, as shown. Stop means 198 areprovided to arrest the supporting bars in these positions. The stopmeans are arranged in such a way as to permit rotation of the cartonsupporting bars from their normal extended positions to their brokenline retracted positions of FIG. 12. It will be observed that in thecourse of retraction of the bars, the carton supporting flanges 19011 onthe bars rotate upwardly in H0. 12 to generally vertical positions, Eachsealing unit 200 extends between and is secured to the posts 1890 atopposite sides of the frame for heat sealing the carton end flaps, ashereinafter explained.

Mounted on the machine frame, directly below the carton sealing station32, is a carton elevating ramp 202 having a vertical cylinder 204containing a plunger 206. Plunger 206 has a rod 208 to the upper end ofwhich is fixed a horizontal plate 210. During each forward feed strokeof the carton feed carriage 170, the latter transports a filled cartonfrom the flap folding station 30 to the sealing station 32 to a positionwherein the carton is centered between the posts 109a and over thecarton elevating ram 202. The ram plunger 206 is retracted downwardly toits lower position of H6. 12 at this time to permit feeding of thecarton to the sealing station. During this movement of the carton to thesealing station, the carton enters between the heat sealing units 200,which are disposed to heat seal the carton flaps 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d intheir folded or closed positions. The carton elevated ram 202 is thenpressurized to extend its plunger 206 upwardly. In the course of thisextension, the plunger engages the carton currently at the sealingstation and elevates the carton to a position wherein the bottom of thecarton is located slightly above the level of the carton supporting bars190. During this elevation of the carton, the latter engages the cartonsupporting flanges a on the bars and rotates these flanges upwardlyagainst the action of the bar return springs 194 to permit the carton topass between the bars. The bars are then returned to their normalextended positions by the springs. At this point, the carton elevatingram plunger 206 is returned to its retracted position, The cartoncurrently supported on the plunger lowers with the latter until thecarton engages the bar flanges 190a. The carton then remains supportedon these flanges during the remaining downward retraction stroke of theplunger.

The above action of the carton elevating mechanism 189 is repeatedfollowing arrival of each filled carton at the sealing station 32. Thisrepeated action of the elevated mechanism creates a vertical stack ofcartons at the sealing station, as shown best in FIGS. 2 and 1d. Thelowermost carton in the stack is supported on the flanges 190a of thecarton supporting bars 190. The above stacking operation permitseffective setting of the carton flaps in their closed positions withoutthe necessity of horizontally extending the machine. Mounted on themachine frame at the level of the upper carton in this carton stack is acarton outfeed ram 212 including a cylinder 214 containing a plunger216. Plunger 216 has a rod 218 mounting at its end a pusher plate 220.The ram 212 is periodically pressurized to extend its plunger 216against the uppermost carton in the carton stack for ejecting the latterhorizontally from the stack to an outfeed conveyor (not shown) along thehorizontal direction line of the machine frame indicated by the brokenline arrow in FIG. 2.

While the invention has been described in what is presently conceived tobe one of its most practical embodiments, it will be evident to thoseversed in the art that various modifications of the invention arepossible within the spirit and scope of the following claims,

I claim:

1. A machine for packaging articles in cartons having sidewalls joinedalong intervening fold lines extending endwise of the cartons aboutwhich the cartons are initially folded to a flat condition whereinadjacent sidewalls are disposed in face to face relation, one sidewallof each carton having a hole, and hinged end flaps along the ends of thesidewalls, said machine comprising:

a frame having carton infeed, erecting, loading, flap folding,

and sealing stations spaced therealong,

hopper means on said frame at said infeed station for containing a stackof said folded cartons with said one sidewall of each carton lowermost,

conveyor means on said frame movable through said stations forextracting said cartons in succession from said hopper means and feedingsaid cartons in succession through said erecting, loading, flap foldingand sealing stations,

carton erecting means at said erecting station for unfolding each cartonabout its respective fold lines to an erect position wherein theadjacent sidewalls of the respective carton are disposed in generallymutually perpendicular relation so as to define a tubular rectangularcarton structure having open ends, said carton erecting means comprisinginitial carton erecting means including a carton erecting plunger whichregisters with said hole in each carton erecting position at saiderecting station, means for extending said plunger through said hole ineach carton in erecting position in such a way that said plunger engagesthe opposing carton sidewall to initially unfold the respective cartonto a partially erect position, and final carton erecting meansengageable with each partially erected carton for finally unfolding therespective carton to a fully erect position wherein adjacent sidewallsof the respective carton are disposed in generally mutuallyperpendicular relation,

loading means at said loading station for blocking one open end of eacherect carton structure arriving at said loading station and feedingarticles into the respective carton structure through its opposite openend to fill the respective carton structure,

flap folding means at said folding station for folding said flaps ofeach filled carton structure to closed positions, and

means at said sealing station for sealing the folded end flaps of eachcarton structure in their closed positions.

2. A packaging machine according to claim 1 wherein:

said final carton erecting means comprise a carton erecting membermounted on said frame over said plunger for movement along a directionline generally parallel to the path of movement of said cartons alongsaid frame, said carton erecting member being spaced from said plunger adistance such that initial partial erection of each carton by saidplunger locates the carton within the path of movement of said erectingmember, and means for reciprocating said erecting member along saiddirection line in such a way that during each stroke in one direction,said erecting member initially engages the partially erected carton atsaid erecting station and rotates the carton to its fully erectposition.

3. In a machine for handling cartons having sidewalls joined alongintervening fold lines extending endwise of the cartons about which thecartons are initially folded to a flat condition wherein adjacentsidewalls are disposed in face to face relation, one sidewall of eachcarton having a hole, and hinged end flaps along the ends of thesidewalls, the combination comprising:

a frame having a carton erecting station,

conveyor means on said frame for feeding the folded cartons insuccession through said station with said one sidewall of each cartonlowermost, and

carton erecting means at said erecting station for unfolding each cartonabout its respective fold lines to an erect position wherein theadjacent sidewalls of the respective carton are disposed in generallymutually perpendicular relation so as to define a tubular rectangularcarton structure having open ends, said carton erecting means comprisinginitial carton erecting means including a carton erecting plunger whichregisters with said hole in each carton in erecting position at saiderecting station, means for extending said plunger through said hole ineach carton in erecting position in such a way that said plunger engagesthe opposing carton sidewall to initially unfold the respective cartonto a partially erect position, and final carton erecting meansengageable with each partially erected carton for finally unfolding therespective carton to a fully erect position wherein adjacent sidewallsof the respective carton are disposed in generally mutuallyperpendicular relation.

4. The machine combination according to claim 3 wherein:

said final carton erecting means comprise a carton erecting membermounted on said frame over said plunger for movement along a directionline generally parallel to the path of movement of said cartons alongsaid frame, said carton erecting member being spaced from said plunger adistance such that initial partial erection of each carton by saidplunger locates the carton within the path of movement of said erectingmember, and means for reciprocating said erecting member along saiddirection line in such a way that during each stroke in one direction,said erecting member initially engages the partially erected carton atsaid erecting station and rotates the carton to its fully erectposition.

5. A machine for packaging articles in cartons having sidewalls joinedalong intervening fold lines extending endwise of the cartons aboutwhich the cartons are initially folded to a flat condition whereinadjacent sidewalls are disposed in face to face relation, and hinged endflaps along the ends of the sidewalls, said machine comprising:

a frame having carton infeed, erecting, loading, flap folding,

and sealing stations spaced therealong,

hopper means on said frame at said infeed station for containing a stackof said folded cartons,

conveyor means on said frame movable through said stations forextracting said cartons in succession from said hopper means and feedingsaid cartons in succession through said erecting, loading, flap folding,and sealing stations,

carton erecting means at said erecting station for unfolding each cartonabout its respective fold lines to an erect position wherein theadjacent sidewalls of the respective carton are disposed in generallymutually perpendicular relation so as to define a tubular rectangularcarton structure having an open end, loading means at said loadingstation for receiving each erected carton in a loading position whereinthe open end of the respective carton opens horizontally to an articleinfeed region opposite the open carton end and feeding articles intoeach carton in loading position through its open end in a manner such asto fill the respective carton with articles arranged in a given numberof layers stacked one on top of the other, said loading means comprisingan article infeed chamber directly below said region, infeed means forperiodically feeding a group of said articles into said chamber toprovide a layer of articles within said chamber, elevator means forelevating each article group from said chamber to an elevated positionwithin said region wherein the bottom side of the respective group islocated substantially flush with the bottom wall of the carton in aloading position, retractable supporting means engageable with thearticle group in said elevated position for supporting the respectivegroup in said elevated position, means for operating said infeed means,elevator means, and supporting means in timed relation such that eacharticle group arriving at said elevated positions contacts the bottom ofand elevates the previous article group currently in said elevatedposition to accumulate within said region a stack of said article groupscontaining said given number of layers arranged one on top of the other,and means operable in timed relation to said infeed means, elevatormeans, and supporting means for feeding said stack horizontally fromsaid region into the carton in loading position through the open end ofthe respective carton.

6. in a machine for packaging articles in cartons each having an openend, the combination comprising:

a frame having a carton loading station,

conveyor means on said frame for feeding said cartons in succession to aloading position at said station wherein the open end of each cartonopen horizontally to an article infeed region opposite the open end ofthe respective carton, and

loading means at said loading station for feeding said articles into thecarton in loading positions through the open end of the respectivecarton comprising an article infeed chamber directly below said region,infeed means for periodically feeding a group of said articles into saidchamber to provide a layer of articles within said chamber, elevatormeans for elevating each article group from said chamber to an elevatedposition within said region wherein the bottom side of the respectivegroup is located substantially flush with the bottom wall of the cartonin a loading position, retractable supporting means engageable with thearticle group in said elevated position for supporting the respectivegroup in said elevated position, means for operating said infeed means,elevator means, and supporting means in timed relation such that

1. A machine for packaging articles in cartons having sidewalls joinedalong intervening fold lines extending endwise of the cartons aboutwhich the cartons are initially folded to a flat condition whereinadjacent sidewalls are disposed in face to face relation, one sidewallof each carton having a hole, and hinged end flaps along the ends of thesidewalls, said machine comprising: a frame having carton infeed,erecting, loading, flap folding, and sealing stations spaced therealong,hopper means on said frame at said infeed station for containing a stackof said folded cartons with said one sidewall of each carton lowermost,conveyor means on said frame movable through said stations forextracting said cartons in succession from said hopper means and feedingsaid cartons in succession through said erecting, loading, flap foldingand sealing stations, carton erecting means at said erecting station forunfolding each carton about its respective fold lines to an erectposition wherein the adjacent sidewalls of the respective carton aredisposed in generally mutually perpendicular relation so as to define atubular rectangular carton structure having open ends, said cartonerecting means comprising initial carton erecting means including acarton erecting plunger which registers with said hole in each cartonerecting position at said erecting station, means for extending saidplunger through said hole in each carton in erecting position in such away that said plunger engages the opposing carton sidewall to initiallyunfold the respective carton to a partially erect position, and finalcarton erecting means engageable with each partially erected carton forfinally unfolding the respective carton to a fully erect positionwherein adjacent sidewalls of the respective carton are disposed ingenerally mutually perpendicular relation, loading means at said loadingstation for blocking one open end of each erect carton structurearriving at said loading station and feeding articles into therespective carton structure through its opposite open end to fill therespective carton structure, flap folding means at said folding stationfor folding said flaps of each filled carton structure to closedpositions, and means at said sealing station for sealing the folded endflaps of each carton structure in their closed positions.
 2. A packagingmachine according to claim 1 wherein: said final carton erecting meanscomprise a carton erecting member mounted on said frame over saidplunger for movement along a direction line generally parallel to thepath of movement of said cartons along said frame, said carton erectingmember being spaced from said plunger a distance such that initialpartial erection of each carton by said plunger locates the cartonwithin the path of movement of said erecting member, and means forreciprocating said erecting member along said direction line in such away that during each stroke in one direction, said erecting memberinitially engages the partially erected carton at said erecting stationand rotates the carton to its fully erect position.
 3. In a machine forhandling cartons having sidewalls joined along intervening fold linesextending endwise of the cartons about which the cartons are initiallyfolded to a flat condition wherein adjacent sidewalls are disposed inface to face relation, one sidewall of each carton having a hole, andhinged end flaps along the ends of the sidewalls, the combinationcomprising: a frame having a carton erecting station, conveyor means onsaid frame for feeding the folded cartons in succession through saidstation with said one sidewall of each carton lowermost, and cartonerecting means at said erecting station for unfolding each carton aboutits respective fold lines to an eRect position wherein the adjacentsidewalls of the respective carton are disposed in generally mutuallyperpendicular relation so as to define a tubular rectangular cartonstructure having open ends, said carton erecting means comprisinginitial carton erecting means including a carton erecting plunger whichregisters with said hole in each carton in erecting position at saiderecting station, means for extending said plunger through said hole ineach carton in erecting position in such a way that said plunger engagesthe opposing carton sidewall to initially unfold the respective cartonto a partially erect position, and final carton erecting meansengageable with each partially erected carton for finally unfolding therespective carton to a fully erect position wherein adjacent sidewallsof the respective carton are disposed in generally mutuallyperpendicular relation.
 4. The machine combination according to claim 3wherein: said final carton erecting means comprise a carton erectingmember mounted on said frame over said plunger for movement along adirection line generally parallel to the path of movement of saidcartons along said frame, said carton erecting member being spaced fromsaid plunger a distance such that initial partial erection of eachcarton by said plunger locates the carton within the path of movement ofsaid erecting member, and means for reciprocating said erecting memberalong said direction line in such a way that during each stroke in onedirection, said erecting member initially engages the partially erectedcarton at said erecting station and rotates the carton to its fullyerect position.
 5. A machine for packaging articles in cartons havingsidewalls joined along intervening fold lines extending endwise of thecartons about which the cartons are initially folded to a flat conditionwherein adjacent sidewalls are disposed in face to face relation, andhinged end flaps along the ends of the sidewalls, said machinecomprising: a frame having carton infeed, erecting, loading, flapfolding, and sealing stations spaced therealong, hopper means on saidframe at said infeed station for containing a stack of said foldedcartons, conveyor means on said frame movable through said stations forextracting said cartons in succession from said hopper means and feedingsaid cartons in succession through said erecting, loading, flap folding,and sealing stations, carton erecting means at said erecting station forunfolding each carton about its respective fold lines to an erectposition wherein the adjacent sidewalls of the respective carton aredisposed in generally mutually perpendicular relation so as to define atubular rectangular carton structure having an open end, loading meansat said loading station for receiving each erected carton in a loadingposition wherein the open end of the respective carton openshorizontally to an article infeed region opposite the open carton endand feeding articles into each carton in loading position through itsopen end in a manner such as to fill the respective carton with articlesarranged in a given number of layers stacked one on top of the other,said loading means comprising an article infeed chamber directly belowsaid region, infeed means for periodically feeding a group of saidarticles into said chamber to provide a layer of articles within saidchamber, elevator means for elevating each article group from saidchamber to an elevated position within said region wherein the bottomside of the respective group is located substantially flush with thebottom wall of the carton in a loading position, retractable supportingmeans engageable with the article group in said elevated position forsupporting the respective group in said elevated position, means foroperating said infeed means, elevator means, and supporting means intimed relation such that each article group arriving at said elevatedpositions contacts the bottom of and elevates the previous article groupcurrently in said elevated position to accumulate within said region astack of said article groups containing said given number of layersarranged one on top of the other, and means operable in timed relationto said infeed means, elevator means, and supporting means for feedingsaid stack horizontally from said region into the carton in loadingposition through the open end of the respective carton.
 6. In a machinefor packaging articles in cartons each having an open end, thecombination comprising: a frame having a carton loading station,conveyor means on said frame for feeding said cartons in succession to aloading position at said station wherein the open end of each cartonopen horizontally to an article infeed region opposite the open end ofthe respective carton, and loading means at said loading station forfeeding said articles into the carton in loading positions through theopen end of the respective carton comprising an article infeed chamberdirectly below said region, infeed means for periodically feeding agroup of said articles into said chamber to provide a layer of articleswithin said chamber, elevator means for elevating each article groupfrom said chamber to an elevated position within said region wherein thebottom side of the respective group is located substantially flush withthe bottom wall of the carton in a loading position, retractablesupporting means engageable with the article group in said elevatedposition for supporting the respective group in said elevated position,means for operating said infeed means, elevator means, and supportingmeans in timed relation such that each article group arriving at saidelevated position contacts the bottom of and elevates the previousarticle group currently in said elevated position to accumulate withinsaid region a stack of said article groups containing said given numberof layers arranged one on top of the other, and means operable in timedrelation to said infeed means, elevator means, and supporting means forfeeding said stack horizontally from said region into the carton inloading position through the open end of the respective carton.